Nyeri, Kenya – September 14, 2025: Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party, has pledged to abolish the Housing Levy and refund all deductions made since its introduction in 2023, should he be elected president in 2027. According to Gachagua, Kenyans earning Ksh50,000 could expect a refund of Ksh38,250, equivalent to 51 months of levy deductions. He emphasized that his administration would prioritize restoring financial relief to overtaxed workers.
Gachagua’s Promise Of An Economic Reset
Speaking during a church service in Nyeri, Gachagua accused the current administration of burdening citizens with excessive taxes while offering little economic relief. He claimed Kenya was sinking under a Ksh12 trillion debt and vowed to steer the nation back to the stable economic foundation left by the late President Mwai Kibaki.
“The country is almost broke. If Kenyans give me the mandate, I will not trade in empty promises. My mission is to bring back stability and restore the economy,” he told congregants.
Housing Levy To Be Scrapped And Refunded
The former DP was particularly critical of the Affordable Housing Levy, which deducts 1.5% of employees’ monthly gross pay and matches it with another 1.5% from employers. He pledged not only to abolish the levy but also to ensure that completed housing projects are handed over to county governments, which would manage them, collect rent, and generate revenue without exploiting workers’ payslips.
“Most of you know what has happened to your payslips—they’ve been raided. That’s why purchasing power is gone. I will restore the dignity of the payslip,” Gachagua declared.
Challenging Ruto’s Legacy Project
President William Ruto has repeatedly defended the Affordable Housing project, calling it one of his flagship legacies. During Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2025, he described the initiative as “transformative,” vowing to deliver 200,000 housing units annually and branding it a true example of the “bottom-up” economic model.
However, Gachagua insisted that the project has failed to live up to expectations and instead overburdened Kenyans. He promised that under his leadership, housing development would continue but without forced salary deductions.
Human Rights And Governance Agenda
Beyond economic pledges, Gachagua assured Kenyans that his government would safeguard justice and human rights, with a special promise to end forced disappearances, which he said have created fear and mistrust between citizens and the state.
As campaigns for the 2027 elections gradually heat up, Gachagua’s vow to refund the controversial levy could become a defining issue in his bid for the presidency.
